Delmar School District pushes planned current expense referendum back a year

Though no discussion was held during last Tuesday’s Delmar School Board meeting, Board President Raymond Vincent read a prepared statement announcing that the district will push back its planned current expense referendum to early 2027 citing unresolved issues at the state level. The board also approved Dr. Michael Bleile Interim Superintendent, replacing Dr. Andrew O’Neal.

“After extensive analysis, discussion, and reflection, we have made the difficult decision not to pursue a current expense referendum this year,” Vincent said. “This decision does not come lightly. Our district continues to face very real financial pressures and increased non-discrecionary expenditures that our revenues can’t keep pace with.”

Vincent said increasing staffing needs, rising salary obligations, persistent inflation, increased enrollment, and growing costs caused the need for the district to plan for the referendum in early 2026. “These challenges are not unique to us but their impact on our budget is significant,” Vincent added.

“A referendum would provide essential operational support and we want to be clear, the need is real. However, we must balance that need with our responsibility to our community. At this moment, the financial landscape at the state level is simply too uncertain,” said Vincent.

Vincent pointed to unresolved decisions such as public education funding committee determination, the special committee on reassessments findings and recommendations, the development of the new state funding model, discussions around possible referendum legislation, and possible changes to the state equalization formula along with reassessment as reasons to delay the referendum.

“Any one of these outcomes could materially affect our local revenue picture and together they create a level of uncertainty that makes it difficult to ask our community to make a long term financial commitment right now,” he said. “We have tremendous confidence in our community. The district has always supported us.”

“Given the unprecedented uncertainty at the state level, we believe it is in the best interest of our taxpayers and our district to pause at this time and focus our efforts on preparing for an early 2027 referendum,” said Vincent. “When we come back to our community, it will be with a clear understanding of our needs within the new funding landscape.”

The delayed referendum will result in no additional operational revenue for the school district in 2025-26 and may result in the delay of projects and cuts.

Earlier in the meeting, Chief Operating Officer Monet Smith presented the FY final budget for approval. The preliminary budget, based on the projected unit count, included around $60,000 from last year’s funds. The final budget did not include those funds. The board voted to approve the final budget.

The board also voted to approve Dr. Michale Bleile, who most recently served as the district’s Supervisor of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment, as Interim Superintendent. 

Former Superintendent Dr. Andrew O’Neal issued the following statement to the Star:

“After much thought and consideration, I asked the Board of Education not to extend my contract beyond June 30, 2026. I believe everyone needs to know when it is time to move on, to seek new challenges and let new people with new ideas have a chance. For me, that time is now. I look forward to continuing in public education in another capacity elsewhere. I am grateful for my nearly 13 years of service with the Delmar School District.  I appreciate the opportunities I was given and wish the students, their families, the staff, employees and the Delmar Board of Education success in the future.”